ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today released a statement regarding the prolonged federal government shutdown, which as of November 5th, has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history:
For 36 days, our federal government has been shuttered – the longest shutdown in our nation’s history. This event has had a devastating impact across our country, our region, and our state, as families continue to face financial hardships, local businesses experience strain, and critical services are put at risk.
In Howard County, the effects of the shutdown are particularly significant as approximately 11 percent of our residents are federal employees, dedicated public servants who work tirelessly to keep our government and our nation running, with additional impacted federal contractors, who aren’t getting paid. As a result of this unnecessary shutdown, many of our residents are struggling to make ends meet through no fault of their own. Their commitment and service to our nation should be honored, not politicized.
Today, I am calling upon our federal elected officials to get back to the negotiating table, put partisanship aside, and do the hard work to end this shutdown. Our federal government must reopen without delay, and all federal employees must receive retroactive pay for the time they have lost. I am grateful for the leadership of Howard County’s Federal Delegation – Senator Van Hollen, Senator Alsobrooks, and Congresswoman Elfreth – for their continuous efforts to stand up for all Americans.
I commend Governor Moore for his leadership and commitment to funding $62 million for SNAP benefits. This funding ensures that thousands of Marylanders, including the more than 21,000 Howard Countians, can receive access to needed resources.
Our residents, our businesses, and our communities deserve better. It is time we restore stability, compassion, and responsible governance for the good of our nation.
Since the shutdown began on Wednesday, October 1st and even before in response to the mass federal layoffs earlier this year, Howard County implemented several measures to minimize the impact and assist community members during these stressful and tumultuous times. This includes:
- Expanding the County’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Foreclosure Prevention Program. In leveraging the $1 million in funding from the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund, DHCD has provided more than $311,000 to bring mortgage accounts current for 30 households so they could avoid foreclosure in the last 18 months.
- Since the federal government shutdown began 36 days ago, DHCD has assisted multiple families with federal employees by providing foreclosure prevention assistance.
- The County’s Department of Finance’s Water and Sewer Billing Division has suspended all water cutoff notices for impacted federal employees who are unable to pay their water and sewer bill during this time.
- As of Tuesday, November 4th, 35 residents have contacted the Division requesting an extension and/or assistance on their bill.
- The County’s Department of Recreation & Parks continues to offer alternate payment schedules for fees for recreational classes and access to facilities for impacted federal workers and contractors.
- As of Friday, October 31st, eight federal employees have contacted Recreation & Parks asking for adjustments.
- The County’s Department of Community Resources and Services in coordination with our partner agencies continues to provide our community with human services through our Multi-Service Center (MSC). Over the past two weeks MSC has had 8 walk-ins and 4 phone inquiries from community members informing staff that they have been impacted by the Federal government shutdown. Additionally, over the past two weeks MSC’s Food Pantry has seen 233 clients, 88 of which were new clients to the MSC Food Pantry.
- Hosted a Federal Worker Resource Fair on Friday, October 17th. Attended by nearly 500 residents, the event brought together public and private partners, including Governor Moore, the Maryland Department of Labor, and BGE, to provide direct assistance and resources to those in need.
- The County’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) continues to offer workforce support to affected federal employees, including career coaching, assistance with finding temporary or full-time work, building new skills through training, or assisting residents with updating their resume and LinkedIn profile. From February 1, 2025, to October 23, 2025, OWD’s American Job Center has served:
- 143 federal employees;
- 110 federal contractors;
- 23 individuals served under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
- Eight participants received occupational or skills training;
- 75 individuals attended workforce development workshops; and
- 30 individuals received résumé reviews and on-site career counseling
- Held a community wide food collection drive on Saturday, November 1st to support the more than 21,000 Howard County residents whose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were suspended due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Roughly 1,600 county residents and Howard County Government employees stopped by one of the County’s five food drive drop-off locations on the 1st, donating more than 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food items. These items will be donated to governmental, nonprofit, and educational partners including:
- The Community Action Council of Howard County’s (CAC) Howard County Food Bank, located at 9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J in Columbia
- The Food Pantry at the Department of Community Resources and Services’ Howard County MultiService Center, located at 9900 Washington Boulevard, Suite 1 in Laurel
- Howard Community College’s Fueling Dragons Food Pantry
- Columbia Community Care
- Howard County Muslim Council
- Indian Cultural Association of Howard County
- The CAC extended its food assistance to federal employees. During the shutdown, federal employees living in Howard County can stop by CAC’s Food Bank twice a month to collect a pre-bag of shelf staples. Additionally, federal employees who have been terminated may visit the Food Bank twice a month for up to three months. On Wednesday, October 29th alone, CAC’s Food Bank was visited by a record 137 shoppers.
- Howard County Economic Development Authority has hosted a series of events and classed geared toward federal workers since the start of the year, including its:
- Business Resource Expo on Thursday, October 23rd (attended by 217) and Wednesday, March 26th (attended by 261);
- Cyber Howard Accelerator on Thursday, October 9th; and
- From Fed to Founder: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Leap on Tuesday, April 15th (attended by 103)
To learn more about these and other resources available to county residents impacted by the federal government shutdown, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/county-executive/government-shutdown-resources or email hocohelp@howardcountymd.gov.